I know you've said it because I've said it before too: "If I'm not there to do this or that, then the whole operation is going to go to pot."

And then we finally remove ourselves from the equation with much fear and trepidation, only to find that we weren't as missed and as needed as we thought we were.

Why?

Because our way of doing things isn't the only way to do things; because our leadership isn't the only type of leadership in the world; because our creativity isn't the sole authority on creativity; because, unfortunately for our egos, we aren't indispensable.

It's may be temporarily enjoyable to feel like we're the only one who can do what we do, but eventually that enjoyment turns to stress and anxiety and breeds a controlling and suffocating style of leadership. And nobody likes that.

So the sooner we can let ourselves live in the reality that we're not needed, but privileged to do what we do, the the really great work, leadership, and creativity can happen—because we're not threatened by and can work with other gifted individuals, and in the process, create a context where brilliant, indispensable, works happens.

And that's the paradox: once we can acknowledge that we are, in fact, dispensable, then we start doing the work that nobody wants to dispense with.

Just like electronics, every part has its place. You have your place too, but you're going to work better when you cooperate with other parts and don't view ourselves as the central component all the time.